Mexico weekly ledger., 1887-03-03

Concerning hld Gloves.

People accrp; The statement that
every t. Kid that ts"trs that name,
while, in fast, only u small percentage
of the gloves sold H. ,ucA are genuine
kid. The reason Is plain. Millions at
kid gloves are demanded by the IN
habitants Of every large eoo'''fy. While
only a few goats, comparatively, are
raised i'll the world. and nf these a
large number must be kept until full
grown for breeding purposes. The de-
mand for gloves is much greater than
the supply Of genuine skins, and a sub
stitut, is found in the lamb skin, which
makes an excellent grade Of glove. and
is easily paimel oil for kid. Genuine
Kid gloves can be oOtained at a high
price, but thousands Of people who
think they are wearing Md have on the
skin of the innocent lamb. OF late
year. several kid-glove factories have
been started in this neighborhood, and
the manufacture of gloves has been
carried on in a small way. There has
been no attempt to compete with the
French glove makers, who easily lead
the world, hut IA fair grade of glove
has been turned ont, selling well and
comparing favorably with imported
goods. In all the branches of glove
making here a high degree Of skill is
required. and the workmen here gen.
orally learn their trade in Europe.
The lambskins, being selected with
great care, are taken to the factory and
put in the large tanks partly filled
with the yelk of eggs and other soft,
sticky materials. Here they are sub
jected to a thorough pounding with a
heavy stick, padded so as not TO injure
the skins. In some factories men with
bare feet tread on them. The object
of all this is to "nourish" the skin and
make it strong and ..healthy." The
skins are kept in these tanks for a
longer or shorter period, according to
the Judgment of the superintendent.
If allowed to remain toe long they be-
come too well nourished and decay.
After the nourishing m the work
of cleaning. The skins are worked IN
tubs of fresh water and washed thor
oughly until all traces of foreign sub
stances are removed from the outside.
They now become soft and in olo a
dull white. They are laid on a smooth
stone slab, with the rough side down
and pressed and stretched until every
wrinkle has been smoothed out
The skins being wet, remain in this
stretched state, and are then dyed.
The dye is laid on with a brush, and
the shade is always darker than the
one desired. for the dripping and
after treatment Tighten it at least one.
quarter. The greatest are is taken to
prevent any spots of dye getting on the
inside of the skin, a spot being a ser
ious defect in Il high-priced glove
After the skins have been allowed tc
drip for several hours they are taker
to the drying-room, the air of which i!
kept at a high temperature, usually by
steam heat. 1t does not take long fo'
the skins to dry out hard, stiff, ane
rough. Before they a be used the.
are made soft and pliable again by ly
ing for several days in damp sawdust
Then they are placed on a machin'
worked by a screw, and by q contin
| uous and gentle pressure stretched t.
the utmost. If there are any holes
, rough spots, or cracks in the skin it i
thrown away, or should be. Not al
3 of the glove-makers are honest, an
$ the blemishes are often covered up
This accounts for the sudden giyinI
i out of many gloyes.-Neo1 fors Tn
buRe.